{{Short description|Main theme music of the James Bond films}} {{About|the signature theme of [[Eon Productions]]' [[List of James Bond films|James Bond film series]]|other James Bond music|James Bond music}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}} {{Infobox song | type = single | name = James Bond Theme | cover = James Bond Theme by John Barry and His Orchestra from Dr No.png | alt = | caption = Artwork for 1963 US single | artist = [[John Barry (composer)|John Barry & Orchestra]] | album = [[Dr. No (soundtrack)|Dr. No]] | B-side = "The Blacksmith Blues" | released = September 1962 | recorded = CTS Lansdowne Recording Studios | studio = | venue = | genre = {{Flatlist| *[[Jazz music|Jazz]] *[[big band]] *[[Surf music|surf]]}} | length = {{Duration|m=01|s=48}} | label = [[United Artists Records|United Artists]], reissued on [[Liberty Records]] | writer = [[Monty Norman]] | producer = [[John Burgess (record producer)|John Burgess]] | misc = {{Extra album cover | header = Alternative release | type = single | image = James Bond Theme from Dr No UK 1962.png | caption = Side A of the 1962 UK single }} {{Extra chronology | artist = [[James Bond music|James Bond theme]] | type = single | prev_title = | prev_year = | title = James Bond Theme | year = 1962 | next_title = From Russia With Love | next_year = 1963 }} }}
The "'''James Bond Theme'''" is the main signature [[theme music]] of the [[List of James Bond films|James Bond films]] and has been used in every Bond film, starting with ''[[Dr. No (film)|Dr. No]]'' in 1962. The piece, composed in [[E minor]]<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.hooktheory.com/theorytab/view/monty-norman/james-bond-theme|title = James Bond theme|access-date = 31 March 2023}}</ref> by [[Monty Norman]], has been used as an accompanying [[fanfare]] to the [[gun barrel sequence]] in every [[Eon Productions]] Bond film except ''[[Casino Royale (2006 film)|Casino Royale]]'' (played fully, instead, at the end of that film).
The "James Bond Theme" has accompanied the opening titles twice, as part of the medley that opens ''Dr. No'' and then again in the opening credits of ''[[From Russia with Love (film)|From Russia with Love]]''. It has been used as music over the end credits for ''Dr. No'', ''[[Thunderball (film)|Thunderball]]'', ''[[On Her Majesty's Secret Service (film)|On Her Majesty's Secret Service]]'', ''[[The World Is Not Enough]]'', ''[[Casino Royale (2006 film)|Casino Royale]]'', ''[[Quantum of Solace]]'', ''[[Skyfall]]'', and ''[[Spectre (2015 film)|Spectre]]''. In 2008, the original recording of "The James Bond Theme" by [[The John Barry Seven|The John Barry Seven and Orchestra]] on the [[United Artists]] label was inducted into the [[Grammy Hall of Fame]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=GRAMMY Hall Of Fame {{!}} Hall of Fame Artists {{!}} GRAMMY.com |url=https://grammy.com/awards/hall-of-fame-award |access-date=2024-05-16 |website=grammy.com}}</ref>
==Authorship and origin== [[Monty Norman]] wrote and composed the "James Bond Theme" and received [[royalties]] from 1962 until his death in 2022. Norman collected around £600,000 in royalties between 1976 and 1999.<ref name="Guardian obit">{{cite news |title=Monty Norman obituary|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/jul/11/monty-norman-obituary |first=Dave |last=Laing |author-link=Dave Laing |date=2022-07-11 |access-date=2022-07-16 |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London}}</ref> For ''[[Dr. No (soundtrack)|Dr. No]]'', Norman scored the film and the theme was [[arrangement|arranged]] by [[John Barry (composer)|John Barry]], who would later go on to compose the soundtracks for eleven [[James Bond]] films. Courts have ruled that the theme was written by Norman, despite claims and testimony by Barry that he had actually written the theme. Norman consequently won two [[libel]] actions against publishers for claiming that Barry wrote the theme, most recently against ''[[The Sunday Times]]'' in 2001.<ref name="Guardian obit"/>
Norman describes the distinctive [[rhythm]] of the guitar in the first few bars of the "James Bond Theme" as "Dum di-di dum dum". He said that it was inspired by "Bad Sign, Good Sign", a song he composed for a musical adaptation of [[V. S. Naipaul]]'s novel ''[[A House for Mr Biswas]]'', set in the Indian community in [[Trinidad]]. Norman showed his manuscript music from ''A House for Mr Biswas'' in a filmed interview and sang its lyrics. In 2005, Norman released an album called ''Completing the Circle'' that features "Bad Sign, Good Sign", the "James Bond Theme", and a similar-sounding song titled "Dum Di-Di Dum Dum". For these songs Norman added lyrics that explain the origin and history of the "James Bond Theme".<ref>{{cite web |title=The James Bond Theme: From Naipaul to 007 |url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5041409 |date=2005-12-06 |website=[[NPR.org]] |language=en-US |first=Robert |last=Siegel }}</ref>{{Better source needed|reason=Source is vague.|date=February 2020}}
Although the "James Bond Theme" is identified with John Barry's [[jazz]] arrangement, parts of it are heard throughout Monty Norman's score for ''Dr. No'' in non-jazzy guises. Barry's arrangement is repeated ("tracked") in various scenes of the first Bond film. This is consistent with the account given by Barry and some of the film-makers, contained in supplementary material on the DVD release of ''Dr. No'': Barry was called in to make an arrangement of Norman's motif after Norman had completed the score. The origins of the distinctive [[ostinati]], [[countermelodies]], and bridges introduced by Barry that are juxtaposed with Norman's motif in order to flesh out the arrangement are less clear. These added musical figures have become as recognizable to listeners as Norman's motif, which is probably responsible for the controversy over the authorship of the "James Bond Theme" as listeners have come to know it.{{fact|date=October 2025}}
On {{start date and age|1962|6|21|df=y|paren=y}}, the "James Bond Theme" was recorded using five [[saxophone]]s, nine [[brass instruments]], a solo [[guitar]], and a [[rhythm section]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Lindner |first=Christoph |title=The James Bond phenomenon: a critical reader |publisher=Manchester University Press |year=2003 |isbn=978-0-7190-6541-5 |page=124}}</ref> The guitar [[Ostinato|motif]] heard in the original recording of the theme was played by [[Vic Flick]] on a 1939 English [[Clifford Essex]] Paragon Deluxe guitar plugged into a [[Fender Musical Instruments Corporation#Amplifiers|Fender Vibrolux]] amplifier. Flick was paid a one-off fee of £6 ({{Inflation|UK|6|1962|fmt=eq |cursign=£ |r=-1}}) for recording the famous "James Bond Theme" motif.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://vicflick.com/vicflickapr2012.pdf |title=Vic Flick: 007 Guitar Man |first=Pete |last=Prown |work=Vintage Guitar |date=2012-04-01 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120412203336/http://vicflick.com/vicflickapr2012.pdf |archivedate=2012-04-12 |url-status=dead }}</ref> [[John Scott (composer)|John Scott]] played the saxophone. Barry, who was paid £250 for his work ({{Inflation|UK|250|1962|fmt=eq |cursign=£ |r=-1}}), was surprised that the theme appeared so often in ''Dr. No''. He was told by Noel Rogers, the head of United Artists Music, that although the producers would not give him any more money or a writing credit, they would get in touch with him if another Bond film were made.<ref>{{cite book |last=Fiegel |first=Eddi |title=John Barry: A Sixties Theme: From James Bond to Midnight Cowboy |publisher=Faber & Faber |location=London |orig-date=1998 |date=2012-11-29 |url=https://archive.org/details/johnbarrysixties0000fieg_j2z2 |isbn=978-0-571-29911-9 }}</ref>
==Use in the James Bond films== {{Original research section|date=May 2017}} Within the Bond films themselves, many different arrangements of the theme have been used, often reflecting the musical tastes of the specific times. The [[electric guitar]] version of the theme is most associated with the [[Sean Connery]] era although it was also used in some [[Roger Moore]] films, in [[Timothy Dalton]]'s final film ''[[Licence to Kill]]'' and in the Bond films starring [[Pierce Brosnan]] and [[Daniel Craig]] with the arrangement by [[David Arnold]].
For every Bond movie which John Barry scored, he orchestrated a slightly different version of the Bond theme, as can be heard during the [[gun barrel sequence]]. These specialised Bond themes often reflected the style and locations featured in the movie, and the actor playing Bond.
The "James Bond Theme" and its variations found in the movies are played during many different types of scenes. Early in the series, the theme provided background music to Connery's entrances. It was not until ''[[Goldfinger (film)|Goldfinger]]'' in 1964 that John Barry began to use the theme as an action cue. Since then, the primary use of the "James Bond Theme" has been with action scenes.
===Sean Connery (1962–1967)=== The first appearance of the "James Bond Theme" was in ''Dr. No''. There it was used as part of the actual gun barrel and main title sequence. It was also used when [[James Bond (literary character)|James Bond]] first introduces himself.
In ''[[From Russia with Love (film)|From Russia with Love]]'', the "James Bond Theme" appears not only in the gun barrel pre-title sequence, but as part of the main title theme and in the track "James Bond with Bongos". It is a slower, jazzier, somewhat punchier rendition than the original orchestration. The original Barry arrangement from ''Dr. No'' is heard during a check of Bond's room for [[Covert listening device|listening devices]].
In ''Goldfinger'', the "James Bond Theme" can be heard on the soundtrack in "Bond Back in Action Again" (gun barrel and pre-title sequence). The "James Bond Theme" for this movie is heavily influenced by the [[Goldfinger (Shirley Bassey song)|brassy, jazzy theme song]] sung by [[Shirley Bassey]].
''[[Thunderball (film)|Thunderball]]'' used a full orchestral version of the theme in the track "Chateau Flight". Another full orchestral version was intended for the end titles of the film.
''[[You Only Live Twice (film)|You Only Live Twice]]'' had a funereal orchestration with Bond's "burial" at sea sequence in [[Victoria Harbour|Hong Kong harbour]]. A full orchestral version of the theme was used in the ''[[Wallis WA-116 Agile|Little Nellie]]'' [[autogyro]] fight scene.
===George Lazenby (1969)=== The [[George Lazenby]] film ''[[On Her Majesty's Secret Service (film)|On Her Majesty's Secret Service]]'' used a unique high-pitched arrangement with the melody played on a [[Moog synthesizer]]. The cue is called "This Never Happened to the Other Feller" and a similar recording was used over the film's end credits. The film has a downbeat ending and the explosive burst of the "James Bond Theme" at the film's very end suggests Bond will return in spite of the situation he finds himself in at the climax of this movie.
===Sean Connery (1971)=== With the return of Sean Connery in [[Diamonds Are Forever (film)|''Diamonds Are Forever'']], the guitar made a comeback along with a full orchestral version during a [[hovercraft]] sequence. On the [[Diamonds Are Forever (soundtrack)|soundtrack]], this track is named "Mr. Wint and Mr. Kidd/Bond to Holland."
===Roger Moore (1973–1985)=== When Roger Moore came to the role, the "James Bond Theme" became a string orchestra driven piece. In ''[[Live and Let Die (film)|Live and Let Die]]'', the James Bond theme was featured in a [[funk]]-inspired version of the tune reflecting the music of [[Blaxploitation]] films popular at the time.
The brief quote of the theme in the pre-credits music of ''[[The Spy Who Loved Me (film)|The Spy Who Loved Me]]'', titled "Bond 77", featured a [[disco]] sound, reflecting a style of music which was very popular at the time. ''The Spy Who Loved Me'' returned briefly to using the [[Surf music|surf-rock]] guitar associated with the theme from the early days.
One unusual instance occurred in ''[[Octopussy]]'', when Bond's contact Vijay ([[Vijay Amritraj|Vijay Amritaj]]), who is disguised as a [[snake charmer]], plays a few notes of the tune for Roger Moore's James Bond, presumably as a pre-arranged identification signal. This is an example of the tune being used as [[Diegesis#Film sound and music|diegetic music]].
In Moore's last Bond film, ''[[A View to a Kill]]'', the melody of the theme was played on strings.
===Timothy Dalton (1987–1989)=== The first Bond film with Timothy Dalton, ''[[The Living Daylights]]'', which was the last Bond film scored by Barry, used a symphonic version with the melody played on strings. This version of the Bond theme is notable for its introduction of sequenced [[Electronic music|electronic]] rhythm tracks overdubbed with the orchestra – at the time, a relatively new innovation.
In ''[[Licence to Kill]]'', the Bond theme was arranged by [[Michael Kamen]] using [[rock music|rock]] drums to symbolise a harder and more violent Bond. This gun barrel is the first one since ''Dr. No'' not starting with the Bond theme, but orchestral hits though the surf guitar makes returns soon after.
===Pierce Brosnan (1995–2002)=== The [[gun barrel sequence|gun barrel]] of the Pierce Brosnan film ''[[GoldenEye]]'' opened with a synthesised arrangement by [[Éric Serra]] which plays the guitar riff on (almost indistinct) kettle drums. A more traditional rendition by [[John Altman (composer)|John Altman]] is heard in the film during the [[tank]] chase in [[St. Petersburg]]. This version of the "James Bond Theme" is not included in the ''GoldenEye'' soundtrack. Additionally, [[Starr Parodi]] composed a version of the "James Bond Theme" for the 1995 trailer.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2019/music/news/starr-parodi-president-alliance-for-women-film-composers-1203153992/|title = Starr Parodi Named President of the Alliance for Women Film Composers|date = 3 March 2019}}</ref>
[[David Arnold]]'s gun barrel arrangements in ''[[Tomorrow Never Dies]]'' and ''[[The World Is Not Enough]]'' dropped the guitar melody line, jumping straight from the tune's opening to its concluding bars. An electronic rhythm was added to the gun barrel of ''The World Is Not Enough''. The typical Bond guitar line can be heard during some action scenes.
The ''[[Die Another Day]]'' gun barrel recalls the version of ''From Russia with Love'' but with a more [[techno]]-influenced rhythm. It also contains the guitar riff of the "James Bond Theme".
=== Daniel Craig (2006–2021) === Daniel Craig's first James Bond film, ''[[Casino Royale (2006 film)|Casino Royale]]'', does not feature the "James Bond Theme" in its entirety until the very end of the movie during a climactic scene. In ''Casino Royale'', the main notes of the song "[[You Know My Name]]" are played throughout the film as a substitute for the "James Bond Theme". A new recording of the classic theme, titled "The Name's Bond…James Bond", only plays during the end credits to signal the beginning of the character's new arc as the 21st century version of James Bond. Although that is the first time the theme is played in its entirety, the first bars of the song (the chord progression) appeared as a slow background music in seven moments throughout the movie: after Bond's conversation with [[M (James Bond)|M]] ([[Judi Dench]]) during his flight, after winning the [[Aston Martin]], when he makes his first appearance in a tuxedo (accompanied by a few bars of the bridge), after he has survived the poisoned martini, when he wins the final match at Casino Royale, when Bond is following [[Vesper Lynd]] ([[Eva Green]]), and when Bond speaks with M on the phone.
At the end of ''[[Quantum of Solace]]'', the theme appears with Craig's new official gun barrel sequence, unusually shown at the end of the film. The theme here is very similar to the classic style in ''Casino Royale''. It appears sparingly throughout the score itself, never in an immediately recognizable variation. David Arnold said in an interview on the DVD extras for ''Tomorrow Never Dies'' that the "James Bond Theme" is what he expects to hear as an audience member in action scenes, yet his scores for ''Casino Royale'' and ''Quantum of Solace'' only use it during the end credits.
The next film, ''[[Skyfall]]'', includes the theme as part of the harmony to [[Adele|Adele's]] vocals during the title theme "[[Skyfall (song)|Skyfall]]" and is used as the chord progression, including a faint surf guitar riff. Also, in a similar way to ''Quantum of Solace'', the gun barrel sequence is shown at the end of the film. The theme that plays along with the sequence and into the end credits is David Arnold's ''Casino Royale'' track "The Name's Bond…James Bond". Despite this, the film's score was composed by [[Thomas Newman]], who also incorporated the "James Bond Theme" throughout the entire film.
In ''[[Spectre (2015 film)|Spectre]]'', the theme appears at the beginning of the film as part of the opening gun barrel sequence, indicating a return to the franchise's classic era of 1962 to 2002.
The theme is used again in ''[[No Time to Die]]'', in the tracks named "Gun Barrel" and "Back to MI6". A reworked, [[Salsa music|salsa]]-like version was used in "Cuba Chase". This is the only film in the Craig era that doesn't use the Bond theme in the credits, instead using "[[We Have All the Time in the World]]" from ''On Her Majesty's Secret Service''. This is because of Bond's death at the end of the film. Additionally, [[No Time to Die (song)|the film's title track]] performed by [[Billie Eilish]] features a single trumpet solo interpolating the theme.
==Chart performance== The John Barry Orchestra recording peaked at number eleven on the [[UK Singles Chart]] on the week of 6–12 December 1962.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-chart/19621206/7501/ |title=Official Singles Chart Top 50 (06 December 1962 – 12 December 1962) |website=Official Charts |access-date=28 October 2020 }}</ref>
==Cover versions== Apart from the James Bond soundtracks themselves, John Barry re-recorded the "James Bond Theme" in 1966 for his [[CBS Records International|CBS]] album ''The Great Movie Sounds of John Barry'', which features driving percussion ostinati (with a prominent role for [[bongos]]), as well as a piano and brass improvisation superimposed over the last few bars.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/John-Barry-Great-Movie-Sounds-Of-John-Barry/master/266723|title=John Barry & His Orchestra – the Great Movie Sounds of John Barry|website=[[Discogs]]|year=1966 }}</ref> For his 1972 [[Polydor Records|Polydor]] album ''The Concert John Barry'', he re-scored the theme again as part of a James Bond suite for full symphony orchestra, in this case the [[Royal Philharmonic Orchestra]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/John-Barry-With-The-Royal-Philharmonic-Orchestra-The-Very-Best-Of-John-Barry/master/327545|title=The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Conducted by John Barry – the Concert John Barry|website=[[Discogs]]|year=1972 }}</ref> This more lush arrangement was to feature in his later Bond film scores, notably ''Octopussy''.
Monty Norman recorded his own version of the "James Bond Theme", shorn of Barry's orchestration, in his 2005 album ''Completing the Circle''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.montynorman.com/completing_the_circle|title=Completing the Circle | Monty Norman | Singer, Composer, Lyricist and Writer - Composer of James Bond Theme|website=Montynorman.com|access-date=20 May 2026}}</ref>
Over 70 [[cover versions]] of the "James Bond Theme" have been recorded by artists such as: {{Div col|colwidth=15em}} * [[Barry Adamson]] * [[The Art of Noise]] * John Barry * [[Ray Barretto]] * [[Count Basie]] * [[Bond (band)|Bond]] * [[Biddu]] * [[Stanley Black]] * [[Al Caiola]] * [[Glen Campbell]] * [[Cannibal Corpse]] * [[Frank Chacksfield]] * [[Crazy Frog]] (titled "The Crazybond") * [[Danny Davis (country musician)|Danny Davis]] * [[Taylor Davis (violinist)|Taylor Davis]] * [[Fanfare Ciocărlia]] * [[Ferrante and Teicher]] * [[Lannie Flowers]] * [[Richard Fortus]] * [[The Four Esquires]] (vocal version) * [[LeRoy Holmes|Leroy Holmes]] * [[Johnny and the Hurricanes]] * [[George Martin|George Martin Orchestra]] * [[Ray Martin (orchestra leader)|Ray Martin]] * [[Hank Marvin]] * [[Meco]] * [[Moby]] * [[Hugo Montenegro]] * Paradise (sampled in "Blue Feeling") * [[Franck Pourcel]] * [[Pendulum (drum and bass band)|Pendulum]] * [[Perez Prado]] * [[Poets of the Fall]] * [[The Selecter]] * [[Brian Setzer]] * [[Roland Shaw (bandleader)|Roland Shaw]] * [[The Skatalites]] * [[Ed Starink]] * [[Billy Strange]] * [[The Ventures]] * [[Si Zentner]] * [[John Zorn]] {{Div col end}}
===Moby's remix=== {{Infobox song | name = James Bond Theme (Moby's Re-Version) | cover = Moby_-_James_Bond_Theme_(Moby's_Re-Version).jpg | alt = | type = single | artist = [[Moby]] | album = [[I Like to Score]] {{noitalic|and}} [[Tomorrow Never Dies (soundtrack)|Tomorrow Never Dies]] | released = {{start date|1997|11|3|df=y}} | recorded = | studio = | venue = | genre = [[Electronica]]<ref name="AllMusic Ruhlmann">{{AllMusic |class=album|id=mw0002415266|title= Various Artists - ''The Best of Bond...James Bond'' (2012) Review|last= Ruhlmann|first= William|access-date= 27 December 2024}}</ref> <!-- Do not add unsourced genres --> | length = {{ubl|3:13|3:23 (''I Like to Score'' version)}} | label = {{hlist|[[Mute Records|Mute]]|[[Elektra Records|Elektra]]}} | writer = Monty Norman | producer = Moby | prev_title = Come On Baby | prev_year = 1996 | next_title = [[Honey (Moby song)|Honey]] | next_year = 1998 | misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|1tInbiCG1cI|"Moby - James Bond Theme (Moby’s Re-version)"}}}} }}
American [[electronica]] musician [[Moby]] produced a remixed version of the theme entitled "James Bond Theme (Moby's Re-Version)" for the Bond film ''Tomorrow Never Dies''. It first appeared as the second track on ''[[I Like to Score]]'', a compilation of Moby's songs used in films, and later featured as the fifteenth and final track on the [[Tomorrow Never Dies (soundtrack)|''Tomorrow Never Dies'' soundtrack album]]. Moby has said "It did feel a little strange remixing something that was perfect in its original state",{{Attribution needed|date=May 2012}} further admitting that he "still thinks the original is miles better than the version I did".{{Attribution needed|date=May 2012}}
Released as a single, "James Bond Theme (Moby's Re-Version)" charted at number eight on the UK Singles Chart, besting "[[Go (Moby song)|Go]]"'s number 10 peak six years earlier to become, at the time, Moby's highest-peaking single on the chart.<ref name=uk/> It also reached number one in Iceland and peaked within the top 20 in Finland, Switzerland, and on the [[Irish Singles Chart]].
The song features two samples of dialogue from the Bond films: Pierce Brosnan saying "Bond, James Bond" as heard in ''[[GoldenEye]]'', and the conversation between Sean Connery, as Bond, and [[Gert Fröbe]] as [[Auric Goldfinger]] in ''Goldfinger'': "Do you expect me to talk?" / "No, Mr. Bond. I expect you to die."
====Track listings==== * '''CD single {{small|(CDMUTE210)}}''' # "James Bond Theme (Moby's Re-Version)" – 3:13 # "James Bond Theme (Moby's Re-Version)" {{small|([[Grooverider]]'s Jeep Remix)}} – 7:42 # "James Bond Theme (Moby's Re-Version)" {{small|(Da Bomb Remix)}} – 7:51 # "James Bond Theme (Moby's Re-Version)" {{small|([[C. J. Bolland|CJ Bolland]] Remix)}} – 5:14 # "James Bond Theme (Moby's Re-Version)" {{small|([[Dub Pistols]] Remix)}} – 5:51 # "James Bond Theme (Moby's Re-Version)" {{small|(CJ Bolland – Dubble-Oh Heaven Remix)}} – 6:07
* '''Australian CD single {{small|(Elektra 7559638712)}}''' # "James Bond Theme (Moby's Re-Version)" {{small|(Moby's Main Mix)}} – 3:23 # "James Bond Theme (Moby's Re-Version)" {{small|(CJ Bollands's Dubbel Oh Heaven Remix)}} – 6:07 # "James Bond Theme (Moby's Re-Version)" {{small|(Moby's Extended Mix)}} – 5:50 # "James Bond Theme (Moby's Re-Version)" {{small|(Piet Blanc's Da Bomb Mix)}} – 7:50 # "James Bond Theme (Moby's Re-Version)" {{small|([[Danny Tenaglia|Danny Tenaglia's]] Acetate Dub)}} – 7:41 (NB: only 7:07 on the actual disc) # "James Bond Theme (Moby's Re-Version)" {{small|(Grooverider's Jeep Mix)}} – 7:44
* '''12-inch single {{small|(12MUTE210)}}''' # "James Bond Theme (Moby's Re-Version)" {{small|(...O Lieb's L.S.G. Remix)}} – 8:05 # "James Bond Theme (Moby's Re-Version)" {{small|(Moby's Extended Dance Mix)}} – 5:50 # "James Bond Theme (Moby's Re-Version)" {{small|(Tenaglia Twilo Mix)}} – 11:57
====Charts==== {{col-begin}} {{col-2}}
'''Weekly charts''' {|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" !scope="col"|Chart (1997–1998) !scope="col"|Peak<br/>position |- !scope="row"|Australia ([[ARIA Charts|ARIA]])<ref>{{cite web |url=http://i.imgur.com/Cfbm8i6.jpg |title=The ARIA Australian Top 100 Singles Chart – Week Ending 22 Feb 1998 |publisher=[[Australian Recording Industry Association]] |access-date=10 July 2016}}</ref> |65 |- {{Single chart|Flanders|44|artist=Moby|song=James Bond Theme (Moby's Re-Version)|access-date=10 July 2016|rowheader=true}} |- {{Single chart|Flanders Dance|14|artist=Moby|song=James Bond Theme (Moby's Re-Version)|access-date=19 November 2020|rowheader=true}} |- !scope="row"|Europe ([[European Hot 100 Singles|Eurochart Hot 100]])<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1997/MM-1997-11-22.pdf |title=Eurochart Hot 100 Singles |magazine=[[Music & Media]] |volume=14 |issue=47 |page=18 |date=22 November 1997 |access-date=15 April 2020}}</ref> |27 |- {{Single chart|Finland|7|artist=Moby|song=James Bond Theme (Moby's Re-Version)|access-date=10 July 2016|rowheader=true}} |- {{Single chart|France|41|artist=Moby|song=James Bond Theme (Moby's Re-Version)|access-date=10 July 2016|rowheader=true}} |- {{Single chart|Germany|48|artist=Moby|song=James Bond Theme (Moby's Re-Version)|songid=3570|access-date=10 July 2016|rowheader=true}} |- !scope="row"|Hungary ([[Association of Hungarian Record Companies|Mahasz]])<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1998/MM-1998-01-17.pdf |title=Top National Sellers |magazine=Music & Media |volume=15 |issue=1–3 |page=14 |date=17 January 1998 |access-date=15 April 2020}}</ref> |10 |- !scope="row"|Iceland ([[Íslenski listinn|Íslenski Listinn Topp 40]])<ref>{{cite news |url=https://timarit.is/page/2962249#page/n7/mode/2up |title=Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (27.11. – 4.12.1997) |newspaper=[[DV (newspaper)|Dagblaðið Vísir]] |language=is |page=22 |date=28 November 1997 |access-date=3 October 2019}}</ref> |1 |- {{Single chart|Ireland2|18|artist=Moby|song=James Bond Theme: Re-Version|access-date=10 July 2016|rowheader=true}} |- {{Single chart|Dutch40|27|year=1997|week=47|access-date=10 July 2016|rowheader=true}} |- {{Single chart|Dutch100|37|artist=Moby|song=James Bond Theme (Moby's Re-Version)|access-date=10 July 2016|rowheader=true}} |- {{Single chart|Scotland|11|date=19971115|access-date=5 November 2018|rowheader=true}} |- {{Single chart|Sweden|31|artist=Moby|song=James Bond Theme (Moby's Re-Version)|access-date=10 July 2016|rowheader=true}} |- {{Single chart|Switzerland|17|artist=Moby|song=James Bond Theme (Moby's Re-Version)|access-date=10 July 2016|rowheader=true}} |- {{Single chart|UK|8|date=19971115|access-date=10 July 2016|rowheader=true|refname="uk"}} |- {{Single chart|UKdance|14|date=19971115|access-date=10 July 2016|rowheader=true}} |- {{Single chart|UKindie|1|date=19971115|access-date=5 November 2018|rowheader=true}} |- {{Single chart|Billboarddanceclubplay|1|artist=Moby|access-date=10 July 2016|rowheader=true}} |} {{col-2}}
'''Year-end charts''' {|class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" !scope="col"|Chart (1997) !scope="col"|Position |- !scope="row"|Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)<ref>{{cite news |url=https://timarit.is/page/2963913?iabr=on#page/n15/mode/2up/ |title=Árslistinn 1997 – Íslenski Listinn – 100 Vinsælustu Lögin |newspaper=Dagblaðið Vísir |language=is |page=25 |date=2 January 1998 |access-date=16 February 2020}}</ref> |98 |} {|class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" !scope="col"|Chart (1998) !scope="col"|Position |- !scope="row"|Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)<ref>{{cite news |url=https://timarit.is/page/2978871?iabr=on#page/n29/mode/2up |title=Íslenski Listinn Topp 100 – Vinsælustu Lögin '98 |newspaper=Dagblaðið Vísir |language=is |page=34 |date=2 January 1999 |access-date=8 February 2020}}</ref> |94 |} {{col-end}}
====Release history==== {|class="wikitable plainrowheaders" !scope="col"|Region !scope="col"|Date !scope="col"|Format(s) !scope="col"|Label(s) !scope="col"|{{abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |- !scope="row" rowspan="3"|United States |16 September 1997 |[[Contemporary hit radio]] |rowspan="3"|[[Elektra Records|Elektra]] |<ref>{{cite magazine|title=New Releases|magazine=[[Radio & Records]]|issue=1214|page=49|date=12 September 1997}}</ref> |- |22 September 1997 |[[Alternative radio]] |<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Be on the Lookout|magazine=[[Gavin Report]]|issue=2173|page=56|date=19 September 1997}}</ref> |- |rowspan="2"|3 November 1997 |[[Contemporary hit radio|Top 40 radio]] |<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Moby: James Bond Theme (Moby's Re-Version)|magazine=Gavin Report|issue=2174|page=13|date=26 September 1997}}</ref> |- !scope="row"|United Kingdom |{{hlist|12-inch vinyl|CD|cassette}} |[[Mute Records|Mute]] |<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.missmoneypennysarchives.com/info/discog_event_single.php?776 |title=James Bond Theme (Re-Version) |publisher=Miss Moneypenny's Archives |url-status=live| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170324081630/https://www.missmoneypennysarchives.com/info/discog_event_single.php?776 |archive-date=24 March 2017 |access-date=17 October 2021}}</ref> |- !scope="row"|United States |25 November 1997 |rowspan="2"|12-inch vinyl |Elektra |<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Hot 100 Singles Spotlight|last=Sandiford-Waller|first=Theda|magazine=Billboard|volume=109|issue=46|page=87|date=15 November 1997|quote=On Nov. 25, look for Moby's '007 Theme'...}}</ref> |- !scope="row"|United Kingdom |8 December 1997 |Mute |<ref>{{cite magazine|title=New Releases: Singles|magazine=[[Music Week]]|page=27|date=6 December 1997}}</ref> |}
==Video games== * An [[8-bit]] recording of the song was used in the inaugural 1984 James Bond video game, ''[[James Bond 007 (1984 video game)|James Bond 007]]'', for the [[Atari 2600]] and other contemporary systems. * [[Sega]] recorded an 8-bit version for [[Game Gear]]/[[Master System]] and the first [[16-bit]] version for [[Mega Drive|Sega Genesis]] of the tune for the 1992 video game ''[[James Bond 007: The Duel]]'' (known as 007 Shitou −007死闘- in [[Japan]].) * The opening gun barrel sequence for the 1997 [[Nintendo 64]] game ''[[GoldenEye 007 (1997 video game)|GoldenEye 007]]'' uses a [[Rock music|rock]]-influenced version of the theme. The game's soundtrack also makes recurring use of its motifs throughout, with corresponding variations in [[rhythm]], [[Scale (music)|scale]] and [[Instrumentation (music)|instrumentation]]. * An original cover recording for the "James Bond Theme" was also created by [[Richard Fortus]] as [[downloadable content]] for the 2008 video game ''[[Guitar Hero World Tour]]'' (a case of corporate synergy, as ''Guitar Hero'' publisher [[Activision]] also held the license to produce games based on the James Bond franchise at the time).<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://news.prnewswire.com/DisplayReleaseContent.aspx?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/03-03-2009/0004981873&EDATE |title=Guitar Hero(R) Catalog Expands With New Music From Rock 'n' Roll Icons Queen and Jimi Hendrix This Month |date=2009-03-03 |publisher=[[PR Newswire]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090305202133/http://news.prnewswire.com/DisplayReleaseContent.aspx?ACCT=104&STORY=%2Fwww%2Fstory%2F03-03-2009%2F0004981873&EDATE |archive-date=2009-03-05 |access-date=2009-03-06}}</ref> Fortus later played the tune live with [[Guns N' Roses]] during their 2012 [[Up Close and Personal Tour (Guns N' Roses)|Up Close and Personal Tour]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.chicagonow.com/chicago-at-night/2012/02/guns-n-roses-concert-review-up-close-and-personal-tour-live-at-house-of-blues-chicago-sunday-21912-with-setlist/ |title=Guns N' Roses Concert Review – "Up Close and Personal Tour," Live at House of Blues Chicago – Sunday, 2/19/12 (With Setlist) – Chicago At Night |access-date=3 June 2014 |archive-date=10 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150710074708/http://www.chicagonow.com/chicago-at-night/2012/02/guns-n-roses-concert-review-up-close-and-personal-tour-live-at-house-of-blues-chicago-sunday-21912-with-setlist/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> * An electrified version of the theme is played in the credits of the ''GoldenEye 007'' game for the [[Wii]].{{fact|date=January 2026}}
==See also== * [[Outline of James Bond]] * "[[Secret Agent Man (Johnny Rivers song)|Secret Agent Man]]", a song inspired by the James Bond theme.
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * [https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/1229406.stm "Bond theme writer wins damages"]—[[BBC News]], 19 March 2001 * {{IMDb title|16433236|The Sound of 007}}—A 2022 documentary on six decades of James Bond music.
{{James Bond music}} {{Authority control}}
[[Category:1960s instrumentals]] [[Category:1962 songs]] [[Category:Concert band pieces]] [[Category:Elektra Records singles]] [[Category:Film music compositions]] [[Category:Liberty Records singles]] [[Category:Moby songs]] [[Category:Mute Records singles]] [[Category:Number-one singles in Iceland]] [[Category:Rock instrumentals]] [[Category:Song recordings arranged by John Barry]] [[Category:Songs from James Bond films]] [[Category:The Selecter songs]] [[Category:UK Independent Singles Chart number-one singles]] [[Category:United Artists Records singles]]